As the diplomatic conflict between Spain and Israel appeared to be easing again, Israel decided to escalate the crisis and invite its ambassador to Madrid, Rodica Radian-Gordon, to consultations, which meant that its diplomatic mission would remain vacant indefinitely.
This was made public by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. “Following the outrageous words of the Spanish Prime Minister, who repeats unfounded accusations, I have decided to call the Israeli ambassador to Spain to return to Jerusalem for consultations. Israel is acting and will continue to act in accordance with international law, and we will continue the war until the release of all abductees and the destruction of Hamas in Gaza. There is only one factor responsible for the October 7 massacre and the current situation in Gaza, and that is the terrorist organization Hamas, which is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the citizens of Israel and the residents of the Gaza Strip.” He wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter). At the moment, neither the Spanish Foreign Ministry nor La Moncloa wanted to comment on the Israeli decision, which they were analyzing.
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Summoning an ambassador for consultations, which in practice means his indefinite withdrawal, is one of the harshest forms of diplomatic protest and serves to express strong discomfort and put pressure on the host country to change its position. First, Morocco and later Algeria recalled their ambassadors from Madrid due to the Sahara dispute and left their diplomatic mission vacant for 10 and 19 months respectively, but both positions have already been filled, in one case with the same ambassador and in another with a new one.
Before the publication of its decision, Israel announced that it would invite the Spanish ambassador in Tel Aviv, Ana María Sálomon Pérez, for the second time in less than a week to express her protest against the statements made by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his “frank Doubt” that the Jewish state was acting within the framework of international humanitarian law in its bombings on Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “instructed Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to summon the Spanish ambassador to Israel.” According to a statement from her office, the aim was to “reprimand them following the shameful statements made by the President of the Spanish government on the day Hamas terrorists murdered Israelis in our capital, Jerusalem.” [no reconocida internacionalmente]“. This referred to the armed attack on a bus stop in this city on Thursday, claimed by Islamist militias, in which three people were murdered before the two attackers were killed.
The Israeli ambassador to Madrid, Rodica Radian-Gordon (standing, in the middle), with relatives of kidnapped people, in the Spanish capital in October. Claudio Alvarez
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In his statements to TVE, Sánchez described Spain’s relationship with Israel as “correct” and justified his criticism of the behavior of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip: “Even friendly countries must tell each other the true things.” After repeating that the terrorist attack of October 7 was “absolutely abhorrent”, that Israel had the full commitment and solidarity of Spain and that Hamas must immediately release all hostages in its control, he added: “But with the same conviction we must do this.” Say Remind Israel that it must maintain its actions based on international humanitarian law. Given the images we see and the growing numbers, particularly of boys and girls, who are dying, I have serious doubts about their compliance with this international humanitarian law.”
Shortly before Netanyahu’s office made his anger at Sánchez public, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares suggested that the diplomatic crisis was beginning to take shape by reporting that he had conveyed “the government’s solidarity and condolences” to his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen the attack in Jerusalem. Albares and Cohen met at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) ministerial meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia, where they conducted their first interview since the bilateral diplomatic crisis began on Wednesday evening.
The head of Spanish diplomacy added that in his first face-to-face meeting with Cohen, after accusing Pedro Sánchez of supporting terrorism through social networks, he reiterated that the Spanish government condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks. It also recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself “within the framework of international humanitarian law and the protection of the civilian population.” Albares assured that he had also conveyed to Cohen Madrid the desire to “maintain good relations with Israel,” reminding him that an invitation to visit Spain is pending.
The crisis erupted last Friday after Pedro Sánchez, during his visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, assured Israel that it was committed to respecting international humanitarian law in its bombings in Gaza. And then he added: “That is not the case.” This time his words were more reserved, as he did not say that the Israeli army was not complying, but only expressed his “open doubts.”
However, the reaction was harsher than back then. If the Israeli foreign ministry then summoned the Spanish ambassador in Tel Aviv to convey its complaints – and the Spanish foreign ministry did the same with the Israeli ambassador in Madrid – the step Israel has now taken is much more serious than the one announced by Netanyahu office, since in practice it is a break in political relations that the ambassador personally carries out. Sources familiar with the Israeli government emphasize that what matters is not so much the nuances of what Sánchez said this Thursday, but rather its “repetition.” The same sources do not dare to say when Radian-Gordon will return, limiting themselves to warning that “something has to change” for him to return. In the meantime, the embassy remains in the hands of the Council of Ministers, the number two diplomatic legation.
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